When WCS employee Tammy Sumner completed her bachelor's degree at Temple University this spring, it marked the culmination of a long-held personal goal.
Tammy, who has been a member of the Wissahickon Charter School team for over a decade, had been just a few credits shy of her degree for years, after the birth of her daughter in 2015. During that time, she joined Wissahickon Charter School, where she now serves as the beloved front office administrator at our Fernhill Campus, offering guidance, encouragement, and some occasional tough love to generations of students.
While Tammy’s education may have been put on the back burner, it was never forgotten. This year, her determination was matched by support from WCS. Through funding provided by The Hamilton Family Charitable Trust's Transformation Award, Tammy was one of five staff members to receive a $500 tuition reimbursement award to help complete a degree or certification program.
For more than a decade, The Hamilton Family Charitable Trust has partnered with WCS to support our mission. Last year, that commitment deepened when the Trust awarded Wissahickon Charter School a two-year Transformation Award, providing $20,000 annually in unrestricted funding to strengthen staff recruitment, retention, and professional growth.
The award came at a critical time. Schools across the country continue to face staffing shortages, making it increasingly important to recruit talented educators and support the dedicated professionals already serving students. At WCS, the Transformation Award funding has helped us expand tuition reimbursement opportunities, support professional development, and strengthen pathways for aspiring educators through our Assistant and Apprentice Teacher programs.
These investments benefit far more than individual employees. By helping talented staff members grow and remain at WCS, we create stronger schools, more consistency in the classroom, and better outcomes for students.
Tammy's achievement offers a glimpse of what is possible when those opportunities are available. Her story is one of determination and perseverance, but it is also a reminder that success rarely happens alone. It requires support, encouragement, and access to resources.
As we celebrate Tammy's accomplishment, we are equally grateful to The Hamilton Family Charitable Trust and all of the partners whose generosity helps create opportunities for the people who make our mission possible.
To learn more about Tammy's journey to earning her degree, read Temple University's feature on her graduation story.
